The sanctuary doors opened.
The music began—soft and slow at first, played on harps and crystal chimes that glowed with magic. A path of luminous petals lit under Ivy's feet as she stepped forward, each footstep kissed by enchantment.
The crowd fell silent as she walked between them, every eye drawn to her like she was the moon herself. The petals swirled around her in a gentle breeze. The flowers on the walls tilted toward her, as if bowing in respect.
And then she saw him.
Isen.
He stood beneath the sacred arch, carved from ancient silverwood and bound with the blooming Ivy of Aenya. His robe was deep emerald, trimmed with gold, and his royal crest—a blooming ivy wrapped around a flame—gleamed over his heart.
But it wasn't the clothes, or the crown resting lightly on his brow. It was his eyes.
When he looked at her, the world stopped.
Like he had never breathed until this moment.
Their fingers met as she stepped beside him.
"You look…" he whispered.
"…like I was made to stand next to you," she finished with a soft laugh, her voice barely holding back the tears.
The High Priest of Light stepped forward, holding the Book of Bonds, the oldest magical tome of their world. But even he seemed humbled by the energy between the two.
"This is no ordinary vow," he spoke, his voice echoing with sacred power. "This is the joining of two souls who defied fate, conquered darkness, and chose love above all else."
He held out two golden cuffs etched with runes—the Bracelets of Unity, bound by ancient Aenya magic. "These will hold your vow—not with law, but with heart. If either strays, the bond will fade. But if the love is true…"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Isen took Ivy's left hand, gently slipping the bracelet around her wrist. It pulsed green once, sealing itself with a soft glow.
"I vow to protect you, not because you are weak—but because you are my strength," Isen said. "To never hold you back, to never hide you from the truth, to grow with you as the seasons change."
He took her other hand. "And to love you with every breath, every scar, every sunrise until my last."
Ivy's voice trembled as she took his hand and repeated the gesture, locking her bracelet in place. A soft hum passed between them, and magic rippled through the sanctuary like a heartbeat.
"I vow to walk beside you, not behind or before. To fight with you, not for power—but for peace. I will challenge you when I must, heal you when you fall, and never forget that you once stepped through fire to save me."
The vines above the arch bloomed wildly as the vow was completed.
The High Priest raised his hands.
"By the ancient bond of Aenya, by the moon and the flame, by your hearts and your truth… I pronounce you soulbound—King and Queen of a united realm."
The crowd held its breath.
Isen stepped forward, cupping Ivy's cheek. "My queen."
She smiled. "My forever."
Their lips met in a kiss, deep and full of promise, and the sanctuary exploded in light. Vines burst into blossom. Doves soared into the sky. Bells rang across the capital. The people cheered, many weeping with joy.
As they turned to face their people, hand in hand, the magic of the Ivy of Aenya pulsed between their fingers—a sign of balance, harmony, and eternal love.
That night, under a silver sky and blooming stars, the kingdom danced.
They didn't just witness a marriage.
They witnessed a legend being written.